Game.



T. 1. RATCHFORD.

GAME.

APPLICATION man M2120; |915.

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

THOMAS J. RATCHFORD, OF BRYANT, SOUTH DAKOTA.

GAME.

App1cation filed March 20, 1916.

To all whom t 'may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS J. BATCH- FORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bryant, in the county of I-Iamlin, State of South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Games; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art' to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a. game and is in the nature of an improvement on the game disclosed in my application tiled October 20, 1915, serial No. 56,870.

An object of the present invention resides in the provision of a device wherein a plurality of balls and runways are used which are so arranged that the tilting of the board will cause the balls to intermingle and come to rest at various points.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of means for impeding the movement of the balls.

A still further object of the invention resides in mounting the last mentioned means in such manner that they may be rendered operative or inoperative at will.

With these and other objects in view, such as will appear as my description progresses, my invention comprises the combination and arrangement of parts as set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended claims.

` In the drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of my device; Fig. 2 is a fragmental horizontal sectional view showing the manner in which the pins are raised and lowered; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view with the pins in their raised positions, and Fig. 4 is a fragmental sectional view taken at right angles to Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters wherein like parts are indicated by like characters throughout the several views:

In Fig. 1 of the drawing I have illustrated only a portion of my device inasmuch as the portion not shown is similar to that illustrated and inasmuch as the description of the illustrated portion will also cover the portion not shown.

My device consists of a board 1 which may be made of wood, metal, card board or any other suitable material. This board is provided with, adjacent each end, a depression Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Get. 19, 1916.

serial No. 85,458. i

2 which in the game is. termed a Prison. Extending from each of these depressions 2 are runways 3 which are normally closed by means of gates 4 and which communicate with a space 5 at one side of which a plurality of semi-circular pockets 6 are formed and from the other side of which tunnels 7 extend, which tunnels are in alinement with the points 8 between the pockets 6. Arranged between the endmost of the pockets 6 and the runways 3 are similar but smaller pockets 9 adjacent each of which a flag 10 is mounted. A plurality of balls 11 are located in each ofthe pockets 6 as illustrated in the drawing and these balls are adapted, when the board is tilted, to pass through the tunnels 7 to the opposite side of the device.

In order that the movement of these balls may be impeded, I have provided each of the spaces 5 with a plurality of apertures 12 which are arranged in three rows between the depressions 6 and the tunnels 7. Mounted between the top 18 and the bottom 14 of the board and beneath each of the spaces 5 is a plate 15 which is movable to and away from the bottom and is loosely secured to the same by flexible strips 16. This plate is normally pushed into contact with the bottom 14 by means of coil springs 17 which are interposed between the plate and the top 13. Each of these plates is provided with a plurality of pins 18 which correspond to the apertures 12 and are adapted to project therethrough. A flexible operating member 19 is secured, at 20, to the edge of the plate 15, extends beneath the plate and thence upwardly through an aperture 21 inv the plate. This member 19 then extends upwardly through a corresponding aperture 22 in the cover 23 of the tunnels. A peg 24 is mounted adjacent the aperture 22 and is adapted to receive the loop in the upper end of the member 19. When this loop is engaged with the peg 24, the coil springs 17 are compressed and the pins 18 project upwardly through the apertures 12.

The operation ofthe device as a game is similar to the operation of the device in my applicationvNo. 56,870 with the exception that when the board is tilted so that the balls will roll from one side to the other, the pins on the offensive side are retracted while the pins on the defensive side project upwardly and impede the progress of the balls. When one of the balls comes to rest in one of the pockets 9 the side to which that ball belongs is said to have captured the flag.

Vhile I have illustrated and described a particular embodiment of my invention, it has merely been for the sake of convenience and I do not Wish to be limited to that particular embodiment as it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the details of Construction Without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

l/Vhat I claim isz- I. In a game, the combination with a board having a plurality of oppositely arranged se'tsof pockets, of a barrier ar` ranged between said sets and having tunnels extending therethrough and pins arrangedpbetiveen each set of pockets and the barrier. y

2.`In a game, the combination with a board having a plurality of oppositely arranged sets of pockets, of a barrier arranged between said sets and having tunnels extending therethrouofh and retractable pins arranged between eaoli set of pockets and the barrier.

3. In a game, the Combination with a board having a top and bottom with a space between the same, of a pair of plates movably mounted between the said top and bottom and having a plurality of pins thereon, springs for normally pressing the plates away from the top, and means for mowing the plates against'the tension of the springs to cause the pins to extend through the top.

In testimony whereof, I alix my signature, in the presence of two Witnesses.

THOMAS J. nAToi-IFORD.

lVitnesses c L. A. GAGE, GEO. DUNN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of atents. Washington, D. C. 

